Olga Alice (Brozowski) Savino

Olga Alice Savino, 100, of Manchester, CT, died peacefully at home on February 2, 2021 surrounded by her closest loved ones.  Olga was born on April 7, 1920 to the late Anthony and Annie Brozowski.  She was the last survivor of seven children.  Olga was born and raised in Manchester and was an athlete growing up.  She loved swimming, diving, playing tennis and was a standout on the town league basketball team.  On the court her tiny five-foot frame earned her the nickname “Peanut”.   It was while playing tennis that she met the love of her life, Frank, an Italian boy from down the street, who affectionately called  her not “honey” or “sweetheart”,  but “Squeegie”’ throughout their sixty-nine years of marriage until Frank’s death in 2007.   

Being a “Mom” was Olga’s life, and with Frank she raised five children in their warm and loving home.  Her kitchen table was the gathering place for the entire family. On Sunday mornings following Mass, there were always big breakfasts of fried hot peppers and eggs. During the week, it was not uncommon for children, spouses and grandchildren to pop in for supper any night of the week. The hustle and bustle and loud conversations at Gram’s kitchen table will long be remembered and deeply missed.

Her home was the place where her grandchildren made turkey doopa soup (Frankie), had sleepovers with friends (Christina) and where midnight requests for chocolate chip pancakes were lovingly granted (Meghan Magpie).  It was the place with the special drawer to find safety pins for race numbers on Thanksgiving morning (Ryan) and a place for non-stop horseplay around the coffee table, occasionally knocking out a tooth or two (Adam). And most recently, it was the place where her great granddaughter (Ryan) would frequently stop after school for visits where she would try to massage the wrinkles from Gram’s arms and forehead to which Gram would laugh and say, “Don’t rub them all away - Gram’s getting old”.   Needless to say, Olga was grateful for the love of her children and her grandchildren and was deeply honored to be invited into their busy lives. She would see some more than others but her stories, memories and inquisitions about everyone’s life and goings on remained as intense as ever. 

Olga worked for many years for the Manchester Board of Education in the cafeteria of Nathan Hale School.  The school bordered her back yard, and it was not unusual to see her scaling the playground fence on her way to work all the way until her retirement in her late seventies. She loved her job, the teachers and most of all; the many children she served breakfast and lunch to every day.

 Olga was a Brownie Leader and a Girl Scout Leader when her daughters were young and enjoyed many years of girl scouting long after her daughters “flew up”.

As the years went by, without exception, Olga always remembered the things that mattered.  She was the one that remembered every single detail of everyone’s important dates.   She treasured and saved all the  cards and letters she received over the years from her children and grandchildren.  She always got excited over the cards she received from old school chums, church friends, her niece Roxie and the letters she exchanged for many years with her dear friend, Carol Mockalis.  
Olga is survived by her sons Francis Savino (Christine),  Joseph Savino (Joan), daughters Jo-Ann Lerner (Earle), Denise Savino, daughter-in-law Mary Savino, six grandchildren Karen Klock (Jason), Frank Savino (Wendy), Christina Davies (Dave), “Father Ryan”, Meghan Rafferty (Stuart), Adam Savino (Danielle).  She is also survived by her great grandsons Benjamin Mockalis, Joshua Mockalis, Trenton Taft and the pride and joy of her world, great granddaughter Ryan Rafferty as well as many nieces and nephews.  Besides her loving husband Frank, Olga is predeceased by her son John.  

 Due to the Covid pandemic and the health and safety of Olga’s extended family and friends, calling hours will be private.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, February 6, 2021 at St. James Church in Manchester. Burial will be immediately following at St. James Cemetery.  

A special Thank You is gratefully extended to the many health care professionals at ECHN Hospice Visiting Nurse and Health Services of CT and the dedicated professionals at Holmes-Watkins Funeral Home. Contributions in Olga’s memory may be made to Saint James School, 73 Park Street, Manchester, CT.  To leave a memory or message of condolence for the family please visit www.holmeswatkins.com

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